The Guardians are turning to one of their most intriguing young infielders, calling up Angel Genao from Triple-A Columbus for Wednesday night’s game against the Mets.
Genao, who ranks as Cleveland’s second-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, arrives with a bat that has been loud at Columbus. The switch-hitter is hitting .300 with 13 homers, 53 RBI and a .875 OPS, and he added to that line Tuesday night by going 2 for 5 with two homers and three RBI against Syracuse.
He started the season at Double-A Akron and hit .271 there with three homers and 11 RBI before moving up to Columbus.
The move could signal two things for Cleveland. One is that the club wants a better option than utility man Gabriel Arias.
The other is that José Ramírez may be headed back to the injured list because of soreness in his surgically repaired left hand. Ramírez sat out Tuesday night’s game with pain in that hand.
Arias began the season as the Guardians’ starting shortstop, but a left hamstring injury in early April sent him to the injured list for more than eight weeks. During that stretch, Brayan Rocchio shifted from second to short and claimed Arias’ spot, while Cleveland also brought up rookie Travis Bazzana from Columbus to handle second base. Bazzana was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Since returning from the IL, Arias has been used as a utility man, mostly stepping in for Ramírez. Ramírez had broken the hamate bone in his left hand on June 13, underwent surgery to remove it and missed five weeks. He came off the IL on July 22, but his bat has not yet come around.
Arias had a rough night in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Mets, committing a throwing error from third base that helped spark a three-run inning for New York. The home crowd let him hear it after that, booing him in every at-bat.
Genao’s glove should give Cleveland some flexibility. He’s a shortstop by trade, but he’s also seen time at second and third this year at Akron and Columbus. Across both levels, he has played 69 games at shortstop, 14 at third base and eight at second base.
In Other News...
Dean Kremers Twins Debut Exposed A Bigger Problem Than It Seemed
Dean Kremers first turn in a Twins uniform gave Minnesota a useful look at what he can offer, and at least on the surface it was steady enough. He held the Kansas City Royals to one run over five innings, worked with composure and looked comfortable enough handling the moment, which is no small thing for a pitcher arriving in a new setting and trying to make a quick impression.
The deeper read, though, is that the outing also showed how much Kremers value depends on the shape of his arsenal. When his splitter is snapping the way it usually does, it gives hitters a very different problem, but against Kansas City it played more like a pitch they could track, which made the rest of his approach easier to anticipate. Minnesota now has a pitch mix to consider going forward, and the question is whether a different look can give Kremer back some of the uncertainty that made him attractive in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan's Sudden Return Raises A Bigger Twins Rotation Concern
Joe Ryan is back in Minnesota to be evaluated by the Twins head team physician after his latest stretch of uneven starts, a development that adds another layer of concern to a rotation already trying to steady itself. Manager Derek Shelton said Ryans condition is being reviewed after he dealt with back and glute issues, with the club trying to get a clearer read on what has been bothering him.
The timing matters because Ryan had already been scuffling since the All-Star break, giving up 17 runs in 15 1/3 innings while also working through discomfort earlier this season in his back and elbow. For the Twins, the bigger question now is not just how quickly Ryan can reset, but what his availability means for the immediate rotation picture as they wait on the teams evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryans Rough Stretch Just Took A Troubling Turn For Twins
Joe Ryans rough stretch went from concerning to more pointed Tuesday night, when he lasted 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Royals and gave up five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. More notably for the Twins, his fastball sat at 92.2 mph, below his season norm, a sign that the issues around him have gone beyond a simple bad outing.
With the frustration building, Minnesota has decided to take a closer look at what might be going on. Ryan is headed back to be evaluated by the clubs head team physician, a step that suggests the Twins want more clarity before his next turn through the rotation. [Read more 🡒]